Walter petekson



- W. PETERSON.

AUTOMATIGIGLASP TOHANG'UP TROUSERS, 810.

No. 355,711. PatentedJam 11. 11, 1887.

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NITED STATES PAT NT EEicE'.

. WALTER PETERSON, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent lN'o. 355,711, dated January 11, 1887.

7 Application filed March 27,1886. Serial No. 196,792. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER PETERSON, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented an Automatic Clasp to Hang Up Trousers and other Articles, which is fully set forth in the following specification.

' This invention consists in a clasp, of which the main features are as follows: (a) Two elongated clamping-jaws, preferably fiat pieces of wood, with smooth faces, so as not to crease the goods held between them, are carried by crossed arms hinged together and having a permanent bend or set in opposite directions, each arm being composed of a piece of wire bent upon itself, anda suspension-loop is connected with both arms at the ends farthest removed from the clamping-jaws, and serves to support the clasp with the trousers held therein, the bending of the arms in opposite directions making the arms above the hinge less nearly perpendicular than below the same, so that the weight of the article suspended has greater effect in drawingthe jaws together. (0) A clasp having the jaws carried by arms of spring-wire or other slightly elastic and .flexible material is provided not only with a suspension-loop, but also with a fastener, and

7 especially with an adjustable fastener, for holding the spring-arms together independently of the weight of the articles suspended, the adjustment of said fastener permitting them to be drawn together more or less, so that more or less pressure is exerted upon thegoods between the jaws in Virtue of the elasticity of the said arms. (0) A combined adjustable fastener and suspension-loop is used, the same being in the form of an endless chain fastened to one arm and detachably connected with the other, or it may be detachably connected with both arms. The preferable means of making the detachable connection is a slot, open at one end so that the chain can be slipped into it, the links of said chain being ofsuch'size and shape as to prevent the chain being drawn through the slot.

It is designed to embody inone clasp all the elements or features above mentioned, but not to limit the invention to one combination of all of them, since one set could be used with or without the others or a part, of them.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, Figure 1 is a perwithdrawn.

spective view of a clasp constructed in accordance with theinvention; Fig. 2, a similar View of a modified construction of one of the arms, 5 also within the invention; and Fig.3, aview illustrating one of theimproved clasps in use.

Referring to Fig. l, the elongated clampingjaws 7, consisting each of a fiat piece of wood, are fastened to crossed arms composed each 6 of a spring-wire bent upon itself. In each of the members 8 an eye, 1, is formed, and through these eyes is passed the rod2, whereby the arms are hinged together. Knobs 4 on the end of the rod 2 prevent the same from being 6 In the yoke 11 of one of the arms is an eye, 5; in that of the other arm there is a slot, 6, open at the bottom. The endless chain 9 forms the suspension-loop for supporting the clasp and also the adjustable fastener for holding the arms together independently of the weight of the article suspended. There is a ring, 10, on the chain for hanging up the clasp, but this is not material. The ends of the chain are fastened to the eye 5 and the middle portion is passed around the yoke 11 in which the slot 6 is formed. The links of this chain are flat and are arranged alternately at right angles to each other, and their width is greater than that of the slot 6, while their 3 the slot 6, holds them in that position against 0 the elasticity of the spring-arms. The upper part of the chain 9, on which the ring 10 is placed, forms thesuspension-loop.

In order mainly that the weight of the article suspended may have greater effect in 95 drawing the jaws together, the said arms are bent in opposite directions, as shown at 12, thus making the upper part of the arms less near a perpendicular than the lower part, and

giving the clasp when closed the general ap- 1o;

pearance in end view of the letter Y.

' The, weight of the article suspended will often, if not generally, be sufficient of itself to keep the clasp closed, and in that case it adjustable fastener could then be used.

better, however, to provide the clasp with would not be necessary to confine the arms by the chain 9. A suspension-loop without any It is both.

In using the clasp the trouser legs are placed between the jaws and the clasp is then hung on a suitable hook or support, as indicated in Fig. 3, the upper ends of the springarms being, if necessary, drawn together and confined by the chain 9.

The clasp in Fig. 3 has rings 3 for keeping the rod 2 in place, instead of knobs 4, as in Fig. 1. The rings are preferably split like a key-ring, or the rings used to fasten buttons on vests, so that they or one of them can be removed and the rod 2 withdrawn for packing.

Other modifications can be made, as, for example, the rod may be in two parts, or one of the arms, instead of having an eye enveloping a rod, can be passed through the rod, or an axle separate for the wires may be dispensed with, the wire of one of the arms forming an axle. In Fig. 2 the rod is in two parts, and the wire of one of the arms is passed through and for short distance lengthwise of the same, as clearly shown. The other arm is or may be the same' as in Fig. 1.

I claim as my invention or discovery 1. The clasp composed of the crossed arms hinged together at their crossing and having a permanent set or bend in opposite directions, and formed each of a wire bent upon itself, the elongated jaws fastened to the end of said wire arms below the hinge at the crossing, and the suspension-loop connected with both arms at the opposite end, the bending of said arms in opposite directions making the arms above the hinge less nearly perpendicular than below the same, substantially as described.

, 2. A clasp having elastic flexible arms and provided with a combined adjustable fastener and suspensiondoop in the form of an endless chain, for confining said arms and for susnected by a yoke, and formed of a piece of wire bent upon itself, and at least one of said arms being provided in its parallel members with an eye forming part of the hinge, and consistingof a circular bend in the said wire,

and both arms having a bend in the middle of the yoke, and the said suspension-loop being connected with said yokes at the bend in the middle thereof, the said jaws being attached to the ends of the said parallel members on the opposite side of the hinge from said yokes, vsubstantially as described.

4. A clasp composed of jaws and hinged arms carrying said jaws, and provided with a fastener in the form of a chain for holding the jaws together, said chain being attached to one of said arms, and the other of said arms having a slot into which the chain can he slipped to establish a detachable connection with said arm, substantially as described.

5. A clasp having jaws attached to wire arms crossed, hinged together, and provided with a permanent set or bend in opposite di-- rections in the two arms, in combination with a fastener connected with the ends of said arms 011 the opposite side of the hinge from said jaws, the permanent bending of the arms in opposite directions spreading apart the said ends, and thus affording a larger space through which the arms may be temporarily deflected when secured by said fastener, substantially as described.

WVALTER PETERSON.

Witnesses:

H. W. TYLER, SAML. THAXTER. 

